Founder and CEO of Nahi Wellness and Sid Yoga (now 4Warriors), Sid McNairy III has been inspiring, guiding, leading, and empowering people as a coach, author, musician and yoga instructor for more than 20 years. Nahi Wellness is a lifestyle brand offering a combination of yoga practices, apparel, books, music, and spiritual healing. 

Sid is a regular visitor to the Boston area. In advance of his next visit to Krigsman Yoga in Hingham, we recently talked with Sid to learn more about his background, philosophy, and Nahi Wellness. Here's what he had to say:

How did you come to yoga originally? What is your origin story? 

I found yoga through sports. Early on I had coaches who believed in being centered to come into the zone as a player. When I was 8 years old I had a great coach for our travel soccer team. He would have us sit and meditate before games, so meditation was my initial entry to the yoga experience. As time would pass I would continue with my meditation as pass it along to my players when I was coaching football on the collegiate level.

In 1995 I had my right ankle fused so I could continue to walk the sidelines. Through sports I had endured a lot of wear and tear on my body. Someone saw me limping at the gym and said I could get all of my mobility back if I did yoga. I bought a dvd to give it a go and it never really took.

I had a great player in Justin McCareins who would go on to be a great player in the NFL. He was injured in college and we thought if he added yoga to his weekly routine he would get healthy. Since I want to understand what I asked of my players I took on the practice. From this moment on the physical practice became part of my routine as well.

Most incredible yoga experience?

During one of my yoga teacher training I got to witness the power of clearing your own life and how it impacts other. There was a young lady in class who was at Whit’s end with her mom who had an alcohol problem. When she was able to release the angst with her mom she then began to shift the space with her dad she had not seen for 15 years. It was an amazing transition to watch as she shifted her perspective of her relationship the relationships changed. Her mom ended up sharing with her grandmom the story of the work she had done. Her grandmom’s response was why don’t you do the same with your dad. Now mind you the mom thought her dad had been dead as she had not seen him in 40 years give or take. Because of the clearing she had done in training the mom tracked her dad down. He had one week to live and they were all by his bedside as he passes a week later. I never will forget the impact of her getting clear and the many other stories like that speak volumes of the life empowerment coaching that takes place in our trainings.

How would you describe your flow or practice?

This practice was designed by an athlete for everyone to remember the greatest athlete within. So needless to say this is an athletic practice that is inclusive to all in finding their Champion Warrior. We all have an E.L.I.T.E. (Every Loving Individual Trusting Excellence) Champion Warrior within. This practice is designed for all to find that connection.

This yoga practice gives everyone a chance to see how they are relating to themselves in life. It’s important to understand it is a practice not a perfect and from there we all can elevate in our own yoga practice.

You travel a lot! What was the first push to this professional approach and lifestyle?

I came from the sports and entertainment world. So my background was to travel and be with a larger team. So I have taken that back ground and brought it into the yoga world in my own way. I left coaching because I wanted to have a chance to impact more lives. Because of this staying at home never felt like the space for me as a teacher.

I am fortunate that back in 2006 when I first went on the road to teach in Mystic, CT., not many teachers were doing that. So my road in was maybe easier because yoga was even newer than it is now. It continue to grow because of the growth of our community. I am blessed to go to many studios of the people that have trained with me and help them grow their community. It really has become a tribe of people standing together. Krigsman yoga in Hingham, MA is a prime example. I love coming to the Boston area, traveling allows me to connect with more people. This lifestyle really works for me.

What can yogis anticipate during one of your workshops?

During any of my workshops I really want to make sure that everyone gets something they were looking for. One nugget that they can carry with them to strengthen their practice off the mat. Wether it is an asana workshop, a life empowerment workshop or a teacher training, that is the goal that everyone can find what they are looking for.

I like to take the time to know why someone has come to the program so that I can deliver what they are looking for. For me the only way to be a great teacher, is because of the relationship to the students. So I want to spend time cultivating the relationship that fosters growth for all.

Tell us about your relationship with Krigsman.

Krigsman is an extension of Nahi Wellness. Amanda the owner lived in Baltimore and was a huge fixture in our community and when she moved to Hingham, MA she wanted to bring forward the community in her new home town. Our friendship has remained solid and she has brought us in to train teachers and grow the studio with her. The seed studio program that allows us to affiliate with Luther communities is awesome and I love supporting others in their expression and growth.

Technology has infiltrated our lives and our yoga practice. How do you embrace technology to expand your brand and/or practice?

I love it. I feel people grow with the time or they begin to fade away. Technology has been my friend. It has allowed me to reach others that I may have never met before. It takes a balance and it is there all the time if you let it be that way.

What’s next for you?

What’s next for me is continuing to step into my expression as a healer. I have been blessed to see people move through many different phases of life’s challenges. My desire is to continue to raise up and help others heal. It is amazing to see it in all of my expressions. I am most inspired by people who desire to elevate whether that is through teacher trainings, coaching, healing sessions, music, yoga classes or art, I am full on it those moments as they come.

I am excited for our next teacher training at Krigsman and watching this community to be a beacon of light for everyone who walks through the doors.

Anything else we should know?